''Her car was outside so I thought I would say hello,'' Skogsberg said. ''I rang the bell twice, but she did not answer so I turned around and went back home. The outside light was on, but I didn't notice anything suspicious.''

Another neighbor, Marge Mastrobuono, 47, 2908 Bromley Road, said the Oglesby children told her their mother did not go on the trip because she did not enjoy camping.

''Things like this do not happen in our neighborhood. It is just unreal,'' said another neighbor, who asked not to be named. ''The last time I saw them was when they were raking their yard last week. They seemed a real nice couple.''